Sponsored by
Fat hits the fire in farmers’ chip battle
Frying tonight: Peter Taylor from Cotewalls Farm and Clifford Thompson from Turnover Hall Farm with wives Julie Taylor and Margaret Thompson
The chips were well and truly down when two Wyre farmers went head-to-head at the village pub in a bid to find out whose spuds made the best chips.
A bit of banter when Peter Taylor and Clifford and Adam Thompson were out shooting ended up with a frying stand-off at the Black Bull in Preesall.
Peter, of Cotewalls Farm, Acre Lane, said: “I asked Clifford if he ate out at the Bull, which is owed by my son Richard, and he said the chips weren’t fit to eat!
“I supply the chips for the pub, a type called cabaret, which are especially for chips because they’re grown on hard ground.
“I send around 50,000 56lb bags into Blackpool every year, and they’re very popular. But Clifford’s potatoes are grown on moss – he’s at Turnover Hall, St Michael’s – and he grows maris piper, which, I think, can take on a bit of fat, so they’re not as good for chips.
“We decided to have a fry-off and make some money for charity at the same time.”
Pub landlord Jim Harrison had already bought a defibrillator for the village first responders, but Peter said he should not have to foot the bill himself, so the £320 raised on Monday night, plus a £50 side bet between Peter, Clifford and Adam, has gone into the pot to offset the defib cost.
And the winner was... “Taylors’ of course,” said Peter.
“There were twice as many votes for our chips. It was a really good night, we had a great turnout and people showed their appreciation for our cabaret potatoes..
“I had some T-shirts printed with Taylors potatoes the best written on.
“Clifford was a bit put out and said he didn’t think we were going that far, but I said it was attention to detail that wins the day.
“And just to prove it, I’d had a T-shirt printed for him with Thompson potatoes a close second written on.
“He took it in good part, but it doesn’t end there. We are going to have a re-match, possibly in August, because he says his potatoes are at their best around then.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Garstang
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 28 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 28 mph
Wind direction: North west
